#nother

“So did Umbra.” Izanami said.

“You think maybe they all had the same idea?” Sun said, and Ares nodded.

“Probably. Broken Chaos, but not entirely broken. Bound to have the same ideas.” Izanami said.

“I wonder what it is.” Loki said, rolling over onto his stomach. He was lying on the couch with Sun, and Sol was perched on her armrest again. Izanami was draped over Ares’ chair. Loki had a bad feeling about something, but he couldn’t place it. Like he was missing something about Ventus, but he didn’t know what it was. He wanted to voice his concerns, but he wasn’t sure that the others would get it.

“What is it?” Sun asked, kicking his hand.

“What?” Loki asked, snapping out of his reverie.

“You’ve been staring at Ares’ foot for awhile now. Either you’re really into that, or something’s on your mind.” Sun said. Loki nodded. “So it’s the foot fetish.” Sun said.

“No.” Loki said, kicking Sun’s hand. “I’m worried about Ventus.” He said.

“What for?” Sun asked.

“I don’t know…I get the feeling something’s going to happen…and that I’m missing something about her. I don’t know what it is. I don’t understand it.” Loki said, letting out a light hiss.

“Has she told you anything?” Sun asked. Loki shook his head. “Well, maybe this is why. You’re getting angry over it.” He said, and Loki lifted his head.

“No, I’m not.” He said. Sun raised an eyebrow. “I’m just worried. What if what I miss is something that threatens her life later?” He asked, and Sun acknowledged this.

“You’re afraid she’ll be hurt.” He said.

“What, you wouldn’t be?” Loki asked.

“I didn’t say I wasn’t.” Sun replied, throwing him a glance. Loki looked up at Sol, who was fidgeting and looking at Izanami. Loki narrowed his eyes, willing her to ask Izanami to speak privately with her.

“Sol, come on.” Izanami said, and Loki looked at the matron, relieved. The two goddesses left, and when they shut the door, Ares let out a sigh of relief.

“Sol was moving so much, I was afraid she’d burn something.” He said, and then he glanced at his two friends. “What?” He asked.

“Anything with Silex?” Loki asked.

“What do you mean?” Ares asked.

“I don’t know, I just…look at Ventus, and she’s different.” Loki said.

“It’s only been a few days.” Ares said.

“Yes, but tell me you feel it.” Sun said, and Ares was quiet. He nodded slowly.

“I do. But I don’t know what it is.” He said, and Loki sat up, flicking out his knives, playing with them in thought.

“And that other thing. The bad thing.” Loki said. “I can’t shake it.” He said, standing, and Ares nodded.

“I feel that too.” He said.

“I don’t. But it’s not to say you’re wrong.” Sun said, still lying down. Loki slid his thumb along the edge of the knife, and he stopped.

“What?” Ares said.

“I haven’t seen my children for a little while.” Loki said, looking up. And there was a scream from down the hall, and Loki flew, Sun and Ares right behind him, and Loki threw himself into the throne room, and he froze as he took in the scene. Everything was fine, except Hostem stood in the room, and he turned to Loki, and he smiled. Loki narrowed his eyes, disliking the smile, for it showed that Hostem knew something he didn’t, and he didn’t like it. Nox was in her throne, and her children were on either side, Hades to her right, and they were staring at him and Ares.

“How lovely for you to join us.” Hostem said, and Loki saw Thanatos spin his scythe.

“Hostem.” He said warningly. “You go too far this time.” He said.

“It’s a game, father.” Hostem said.

“Not when you include others in the game.” Thanatos snapped.

“She did. I’m using the same players.” Hostem said, looking back at Thanatos, who glanced at Nox.

“You can’t do this.” She said.

“Do what?” Sun said, and Loki sidled around the room and he got to Ventus and took her hand. Sun leapt over Hostem and Ares walked over to Silex.

“I took something of Ares’ and Loki’s.” Hostem said. Ares narrowed his eyes.

“Took what?” He asked. Loki narrowed his eyes at the demon, and Hostem smiled and snapped his fingers. And there appeared next to him a large sphere, and it showed…two men, trapped in a dark room. Loki was puzzled, but as he glanced at Ares, he was not confused anymore.

“My children.” Ares said, staring. “Phobos and Deimos.” He said, and he locked his eyes on Hostem, and took a step.

“Ah…I wouldn’t. I’m able to hurt them.” Hostem said, smiling. Loki felt dread as Hostem turned to him. “And as for you…” He said, and the sphere showed Hel. Fenrir. Jormungandr. Chained. And Loki snarled, his knives flashing, rage exploding inside him, but Hostem had his children, and now he couldn’t do anything to him.

“How did you get them?” He growled, and Hostem laughed a little.

“They were outside. And I took them.” He said, and Thanatos hissed at his son.

“You damage too much.” He said, flapping the two pairs of wings on his back, spinning his scythe. Nemesis stared at the demon, and Hypnos had a slight smile on his face.

“Hostem, my dear nephew…” Hypnos said, and Hostem turned to his uncle. “I have a question for you.” He said. Hostem raised an eyebrow. “Whose children are they?” He said, gesturing to Broken Chaos. Hostem tilted his head.

“Hades.” He said.

“And the mother?” Hypnos asked.

“Persephone, I assumed.” Hostem said. Hypnos closed his eyes and laughed.

“Oh…my dear. How wrong you are.” He said. Hostem’s eyes widened in wonder.

“Oh?” He said.

“They’re mine, dear.” Nox said, and Hostem’s mouth opened slightly, and he closed his eyes.

“Ah…I see.” He said, and he opened his eyes. And then he looked horrified. “Oh…no.” He said, and he stared at Ventus, Flumine, and Silex.

“Flirting with your aunts?” Hypnos asked lightly, and Hostem shook his head, shaking a little.

“No. That’s…no…” He said, and Hypnos laughed. Loki squeezed Ventus’ hand, still worried for his children.

“Why can’t you take him?” Sun asked Nox, who shook her head.

“He’s keeping them in a different place. I can’t find them that fast.” She said, and Hostem returned to the conversation.

“Specifically why I did that.” Hostem said, and Loki was shaking. “So I could have you two…” He said, looking at Ares and Loki, who glanced at each other, knowing they would have to.

“I’ll go with you.” Sun said, but Loki pulled himself from Ventus, and held a knife in front of himself, glaring at Sun.

“No.” He said. “You stay here, and you will protect them while we’re not here.” Loki said, and Ares nodded, giving Sun the same look.

“Besides, I’ll get you soon anyway, but don’t worry Loki, Ares, I promise not to hurt them.” Hostem said, and they glanced at him, and Loki narrowed his eyes.

“But?” He said.

“But…I can’t promise you won’t be ordered to hurt them.” He said, and Loki closed his eyes, and he opened them onto Ventus, and he could see she was thinking of the same memory, just this morning when he’d promised her he wouldn’t hurt her no matter what.

“That’s okay.” She whispered, and he looked away, taking a breath.

“I’ll avoid it.” He said, and Hostem smiled.

“Not if I tell you specifically.” He said, and Loki snarled, torn between his children and Ventus. He couldn’t choose, for it was not a choice, he had to pick both.

“Loki, it will be okay.” Sun said, and Loki nodded.

“Well…as heartwarming as this is…” Hostem said, and he grabbed Loki and Ares by the arm. “I’ll be back for them.” He said, nodding to Ventus and her siblings, who exchanged glances, and then Loki and Ares were transported with Hostem back to the fortress where Ventus and her siblings had been kept. Hostem let go, and he sat in a chair in the room they were in. Ares was staring at the floor, and Loki was dreading when he would have to hurt Ventus.

“Alright, in actuality, I wouldn’t order you to hurt them. I hope you know that.” Hostem said, dropping the smile. “Maybe a little to force them along, but not what you two are imagining.” He said, watching them intently. “I’m also not so crazy as I seem, don’t worry. I won’t hurt your children unless you refuse me…which I should hope won’t be often…I also allow good reasons for why you can’t or won’t do things. I’m not unreasonable.” He said.

“You took my children.” Ares said, glaring at him.

“Yes, so you would do what I said. They’re completely fine, just confined. And unable to use their powers, but still, they haven’t been harmed. Same for your children Loki. I don’t expect you to like me, just understand I’m not unreasonable. Odin hurt your children more than I will.” He said, and Loki took a breath, seeing the reason, still disliking it.

“I never said goodbye to her.” He said, and Hostem snorted.

“You’ll be seeing her…in…let’s say a month. So don’t worry.” He said, and Loki looked away.

“And you’ll make us take them with us.” He said.

“Oh yes. But here, just to make it easier, when you get Ventus, and for you Ares, Silex, but when you get them and bring them here, they’re yours. Do what you want with them. Except send them away, I can’t let you do that.” Hostem said, and Loki and Ares glanced at each other.

“That doesn’t make it easier.” Ares said.

“It should. It means no one else is allowed to touch them.” Hostem said, and he stood, and Loki looked closer at him.

“You have a…” He said, drawing a line on his own face. Hostem had a crack in his face, revealing reddish black flesh underneath. He touched it, and it healed.

“Thank you. Anyway, let’s go meet who else I have with me.” Hostem said, and Ares followed him, revelling in the aspect of war, even against his loved one. Loki walked more slowly, thinking of how he could find his children and free them.

“Loki, I wouldn’t.” Hostem said, and Loki glanced at him. “I don’t trust you to not try and find a way out of this.” He said, looking back at the Trickster God, and Loki narrowed his eyes.

“I will. Don’t worry.” Loki replied, and Hostem nodded.

“I expect so. I just hope it will wait until the game is over.” Hostem said. Loki stopped and studied the demon, and Hostem returned his look.

“What’s the point?” He asked, and Hostem looked away.

“Honestly…I’m not sure. It’s just a game you see.” He said.

“You’re involving too many people. Both of you.” Loki said.

“Ares, would you go to that room down the hall, to the left, please? Thank you.” Hostem said, and he turned back to Loki. “You think I don’t know that? It was just a game, it really was, and then she almost killed me. So I killed her consort…Erebus.” He said.

“Erebus was the God of Darkness, he was primordial, why would you do that?” Loki snapped. “He was important.” He said.

“Yes, and Hades still has his soul, trying to find a way to resurrect him. But the Mistress was so full of power, and a lot of it came from Erebus. And now this is showing her that she isn’t as powerful as she thinks she is.” Hostem said.

“Those two were a partnership, they were the Dark Force.” Loki said. “The Light’s too powerful now, that’s what’s wrong with the world.” He said, realizing.

“The Light?” Hostem said.

“You ever heard of the Father?” Loki said, and Hostem shook his head. “What about Lucifer?” He asked, and Hostem nodded.

“He’s here.” He said, and Loki raised his eyebrow. “That’s who you look like…” He said, and Loki blinked.

“Whatever. You killed Erebus, and the Dark Lord is gone. Mistress of the Night remains, but she isn’t enough to keep the Father at bay. We should resurrect Erebus…” Loki said, trailing off.

“After this is over, sure.” Hostem said.

“And when will it be over?” Loki asked.

“After you get Broken Chaos, so a month and however long Nox takes to execute her plan.” Hostem said.

“What is her plan?” Loki asked.

“She can’t resurrect Erebus. Not yet. So to stop me she will probably send in her family. And I’m telling you this now, you will fight for me…otherwise…” Hostem said, and Loki’s nostrils flared as he thought of his children.

“Fine. But I will be defeated, just as you will. And my children don’t die just because I failed.” Loki said, pointing at Hostem, and the demon nodded.